flynn



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD F. FLYNN, OF KIRKCALDY, SCOTLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN GUTHRIE LORNIE, OF SAME PLACE.

FLOOR-COVERING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,249, dated September 29, 1891.

Application filed November 3, 1890. $erial No. 370,213. (No specimens.) Patented in England May 6 1890. No. 7,028, and in Belgium August 20, 1890,11'0. 91,698.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD FREDERICK FLYNN, manager, a subject of the Queen of England, and a resident of Kirkcaldy, in the county of Fife, Scotland, have invented a new and useful Floor-Covering, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent in England, No. 7,028, dated May 6, 1890, and in Belgium, No. 91,698, dated August 20, 1890,) of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a floor-coverin g which will be stronger and more durable than many of the floor-coverings at present in use at considerable less cost.

In the manufacture of floor-covering the material proposed to be used is pitch obtained from palm or other oil, which will make a very serviceable covering when there is mixed and thoroughlyincorporated therewith a sufficient quantity of coarsely ground or granulated cork to produce a soft and elastic surface. The pitch is heated until it assumes a very liquid form. The hot liquid pitch has then 7 mixed or incorporated with it a quantity of coarsely-granulated cork and the two are placed in a pan or drum fitted with rotating heaters or stirrers, or into some other similar machine, and stirred until a thoroughly homogeneous and'plastic mass is produced. Durin g the mixing operation the composition may have added to it a pigment or coloring-matter, if it is required, to produce a material of any special color.

The quantities of the several materials used will be such as to produce a plastic homogeneous mass, and should be about as follows: pitch, fifteen to eighteen pounds; cork granules, eighteen pounds; (with or without) pigment or coloring-matter, three to six pounds. The composition so formed is, while in a hot state, spread or rolled upon a sheet of jute, canvas, or other cloth, upon which it is firmly compressed by means of rollers or the like until a fabric is formed with a front or base of the pitch composition firmly adhering to a fibrous back. The fabric so formed is then dried and matured in an oven or stove, where it is subjected to a heat of from 100 to 170 Fahrenheit for a period extending over from three to four days. The degree of heat to which the fabric is subjected and the dura tion of the period will vary and will depend somewhat on the quality of pitch, and if found desirable the heat may be raised above the degree mentioned and the process be continued for a Week.

This fabric when produced is rough on the surface, and in order to give a better finish it may be treated with grinding-rollers of em cry or pumice-stone until the desired smoothness and color are obtained.

The fabric when made, either after the surface is polished or without being so polished, may be printed with any design or pattern, or may be dyed to any color if no pigments have been already added to the pitch during its incorporation with the cork; or the desired color may be produced by dyeing the cork granules before they are mixed with the pitch.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A floor-covering fabric consisting of a base of palm-oil pitch with the addition of coarse granules of cork and abacking of canvas, jute, or other cloth, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 22d day of October, 1890.

R. F. FLYN N.

WVitnesses:

JAMES lVIURRAY REID, DAVID KIRK STooKs,

Law Clerks, .Kt'rkcalcly. 

